Managing physical network function instances in a network service instance

ABSTRACT

Systems and methods provide solutions to add a physical network function (PNF) instance to a network service (NS), modify PNF instances in an NS, and remove PNF instances from an NS. For example, a process may include sending an update NS request from the management function to a network functions virtualization orchestrator (NFVO) to update the NS instance, the update NS request comprising an NS instance identifier, an update type, and PNF information; receiving an update NS response from the NFVO, the update NS response comprising a lifecycle operation occurrence identifier corresponding to an NS lifecycle operation occurrence; receiving an NS Lifecycle Change notification from the NFVO, the NS Lifecycle Change notification indicating a start of an NS update; and receiving an NS identifier change notification from the NFVO, the NS identifier change notification indicating a result of the NS update.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional PatentApplication No. 62/617,799, filed Jan. 16, 2018, which is herebyincorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This application relates generally to wireless communication systems,and more specifically to managing physical network function (PNF)instances in a network service (NS) instance.

BACKGROUND

Wireless mobile communication technology uses various standards andprotocols to transmit data between a base station and a wireless mobiledevice. Wireless communication system standards and protocols caninclude the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) long termevolution (LTE); the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers(IEEE) 802.16 standard, which is commonly known to industry groups asworldwide interoperability for microwave access (WiMAX); and the IEEE802.11 standard for wireless local area networks (WLAN), which iscommonly known to industry groups as Wi-Fi. In 3GPP radio accessnetworks (RANs) in LTE systems, the base station can include a RAN Nodesuch as a Evolved Universal Terrestrial Radio Access Network (E-UTRAN)Node B (also commonly denoted as evolved Node B, enhanced Node B,eNodeB, or eNB) and/or Radio Network Controller (RNC) in an E-UTRAN,which communicate with a wireless communication device, known as userequipment (UE). In fifth generation (5G) wireless RANs, RAN Nodes caninclude a 5G Node, new radio (NR) node or g Node B (gNB).

RANs use a radio access technology (RAT) to communicate between the RANNode and UE. RANs can include global system for mobile communications(GSM), enhanced data rates for GSM evolution (EDGE) RAN (GERAN),Universal Terrestrial Radio Access Network (UTRAN), and/or E-UTRAN,which provide access to communication services through a core network.Each of the RANs operates according to a specific 3GPP RAT. For example,the GERAN implements GSM and/or EDGE RAT, the UTRAN implements universalmobile telecommunication system (UMTS) RAT or other 3GPP RAT, and theE-UTRAN implements LTE RAT.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

To easily identify the discussion of any particular element or act, themost significant digit or digits in a reference number refer to thefigure number in which that element is first introduced.

FIG. 1 illustrates an example network architecture in accordance withone embodiment.

FIG. 2 illustrates an architecture in accordance with one embodiment.

FIG. 3 illustrates a signal diagram in accordance with one embodiment ofan NS update to add a PNF to an NS instance.

FIG. 4 illustrates a signal diagram in accordance with one embodiment ofan NS update to modify a PNF in an NS instance.

FIG. 5 illustrates a signal diagram in accordance with one embodiment ofan NS update to remove a PNF from an NS instance.

FIG. 6 illustrates a method in accordance with one embodiment for amanagement function to manage PNF instances in an NS instance.

FIG. 7 illustrates a method in accordance with one embodiment for anNFVO to manage PNF instances in an NS instance.

FIG. 8 illustrates a system in accordance with one embodiment.

FIG. 9 illustrates a system in accordance with one embodiment.

FIG. 10 illustrates a device in accordance with one embodiment.

FIG. 11 illustrates an example interfaces in accordance with oneembodiment.

FIG. 12 illustrates a control plane in accordance with one embodiment.

FIG. 13 illustrates a user plane in accordance with one embodiment.

FIG. 14 illustrates a components in accordance with one embodiment.

FIG. 15 illustrates a system in accordance with one embodiment.

FIG. 16 illustrates a components in accordance with one embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

A detailed description of systems and methods consistent withembodiments of the present disclosure is provided below. While severalembodiments are described, it should be understood that the disclosureis not limited to any one embodiment, but instead encompasses numerousalternatives, modifications, and equivalents. In addition, whilenumerous specific details are set forth in the following description inorder to provide a thorough understanding of the embodiments disclosedherein, some embodiments can be practiced without some or all of thesedetails. Moreover, for the purpose of clarity, certain technicalmaterial that is known in the related art has not been described indetail in order to avoid unnecessarily obscuring the disclosure.

In some embodiments, systems and methods provide solutions to add aphysical network function (PNF) instance to a network service (NS),modify PNF instances in an NS, and remove PNF instances from an NS. Forexample, a process may include sending an update NS request from themanagement function to a network functions virtualization orchestrator(NFVO) to update the NS instance, the update NS request comprising an NSinstance identifier, an update type, and PNF information; receiving anupdate NS response from the NFVO, the update NS response comprising alifecycle operation occurrence identifier corresponding to an NSlifecycle operation occurrence; receiving an NS Lifecycle Changenotification from the NFVO, the NS Lifecycle Change notificationindicating a start of an NS update; and receiving an NS identifierchange notification from the NFVO, the NS identifier change notificationindicating a result of the NS update.

FIG. 1 illustrates an architecture of an example network architecture100 of a network in accordance with some embodiments. The examplenetwork architecture 100 is shown to a User Plane Function (shown as UPF102); a data network (DN 104), which may be, for example, operatorservices, Internet access or 3rd party services; a gNB 106 (alsoreferred to herein as a RAN node); and a 5G Core network (5GC) (shown asCN 108). Corresponding interfaces or reference points (e.g., N2, N3, N4,N6) are also shown.

The CN 108 may include Network Slice Selection Function (shown as NSSF116); an Authentication Server Function (AUSF 114); a Core Access andMobility management function (AMF 112); a Session management function(SMF 120); a network Exposure Function (NEF 118); a Policy ControlFunction (PCF 124); a network Function (NF) Repository Function (NRF122); a Unified Data management (UDM 126); and an Application Function(AF 128). The CN 108 may also include other elements that are not shown,such as a Structured Data Storage network function (SDSF), anUnstructured Data Storage network function (UDSF), and the like.Corresponding interfaces or reference points (e.g., Nnssf, Nnef, Nnrf,Npcf, Nudm, Naf, Nausf, Namf, Nsmf) are also shown. Further details ofthe elements and functions shown in FIG. 1 are provided below, forexample, with reference to FIG. 9.

An NR RAN may include a functional split feature that divides or splitsfunctions. For example, the gNB 106 may be split into a gNB-DistributedUnit (shown as gNB-DU 130) and a gNB-Centralized Unit (shown as gNB-CU132) in communication through an interface X1. The gNB-DU 130 may beconfigured to implement the lower layer functions of the gNB 106, andthe gNB-CU 132 may be configured to implement the upper layer functionsof the gNB 106. In certain embodiments, for example, the gNB-CU 132 maybe implemented as a VNF deployed in the cloud, and the gNB-DU 130 may beimplemented as a PNF in vertical hardware deployed in a cell site toprovide wireless communication to UEs.

An operator can create virtualized 5G networks by using an ETSI NFVlifecycle management function to instantiate a network service (NS) inthe cloud that includes various VNFs (e.g., 5G core NFs, gNB-CU), PNFs(e.g. gNB-DU), and VNF Forwarding Graph (VNFFG). However, in thelifecycle of mobile network operation, operators may benefit from thecapability to expand radio coverage or network capacity, or add a gNB-DUto a mobile network if it currently doesn't have any, by adding PNF(s)to an NS, reduce radio coverage or network capacity by removing PNF(s)from an NS, or redirect the radio coverage to different serving areas orchange the PNF behavior by modifying the PNF in an NS. Embodimentsherein provide mechanisms to add PNF instances to an NS, modify PNFinstances in an NS, and remove PNF instances from an NS.

FIG. 2 depicts an example 3GPP management and ETSI NFV management andOrchestration (MANO) architecture 200. The 3GPP management system isbased on 4G networks may be subject to change in 5G networks. As usedherein, the term “network management function (NMF)” may be an entitythat plays a same or similar role as the network manager (NM) in 4Gsystems. Thus, as a management function may manage a 5G network, an NMFmay simply be referred to as a “network management function” herein.

As shown, the architecture 200 of FIG. 2 includes a 3GPP managementsystem 202 comprising an operations support system/business supportsystem (shown as OSS/BSS 206) with an NM 208, a domain manager (shown asDM 210) with an element manager (shown as EM 212), a PNF (gNB-DU) 214,VNFs (5G NF) 216, and a VNF (gNB-CU) 218. The architecture 200 alsoincludes an ETSI NFV-MANO 204 comprising an NFV Orchestrator (NFVO) 222,a VNF Manager (VNFM) 224, and a Virtualized Infrastructure Manager (VIM)226. The architecture 200 also includes a network functionsvirtualization infrastructure (shown as NFVI 220). Correspondinginterfaces or reference points (Itf-N, Os-Ma-nfvo, Ve-Vnfm-em,Ve-Vnfm-vnf, Vn-Nf, Nf-Vi, Or-Vnfm, Vi-Vnfm, Or-Vi) are also shown.Further details of the elements and functions shown in FIG. 2 areprovided below, for example, with reference to FIG. 15.

FIG. 3 illustrates a signal diagram 300 in accordance with oneembodiment of an NS update to add a PNF to an NS instance. The signaldiagram 300 shows communications between an NMF 302 and an NFVO 304. TheNMF 302 may also be referred to herein as a “network managementfunction” or simply “management function.” The NMF 302 sends anUpdateNsRequest—AddPnf 306 message to the NFVO 304. In response, theNFVO 304 sends an UpdateNsResponse 308 message and aNotify—NsLifecycleChangeNotification (start) 310 message to the NMF 302.The NFVO 304 performs an operation to add a PNF to the NS instance 312.Then, the NFVO 304 sends a Notify—NsIdentifierChangeNotification(result) 314 message to the NMF 302.

In certain embodiments of the procedure shown in FIG. 3, it is assumedthat the PNFD of the PNF instances to be added has been on-boarded, andthe NS where the PNF instances are to be added has been instantiated.The UpdateNsRequest—AddPnf 306 message may include one or more of thefollowing parameters to on-board the NSD: nsInstanceId—the identifier ofthe NS instance being updated; updateType=“AddPnf” to indicate the typeof update operation; and addPnfData comprising PNF information. The PNFinformation may include the following attributes: pnfId—the identifierof the PNF; pnfdId—reference to the identifier of the PNFD related tothis PNF; pnfProfileId—reference to the identifier of the PNF Profile tobe used for this PNF; and cpData—information of the external CP(Connection Point) of the PNF.

The UpdateNsResponse 308 message may include the attributelifecycleOperationOccurrenceId that is the identifier of the NSlifecycle operation occurrence.

The Notify—NsLifecycleChangeNotification (start) 310 message may carryan NsLifecycleChangeNotification information element with attributesnsInstanceId, lifecycleOperationOccurrenceId, operation=“NsUpdate”, andnotificationType=“start” to indicate the start of the NS instantiation.The 304 adds the PNF information provided in addPnfData to the NSinstance identified by nsInstanceId.

The Notify—NsIdentifierChangeNotification (result) 314 message carriesan NsLifecycleChangeNotification information element with attributesnsInstanceId, lifecycleOperationOccurrenceId, operation=“NsUpdate”, andnotificationType=“result” to indicate the end result of the NSinstantiation.

An example embodiment of the procedure of FIG. 3 is shown in Table 1.

TABLE 1 Use Case Evolution/Specification Goal To enable NMF to add PNFinstance(s) (e.g. gNB-DU) to the NS instance. Actors and NMF Roles NFVOTelecom NMF, NFVO resources Assumptions NMF is subscribed to receive theNS LCM notifications. Pre- The PNFD of the PNF instances to be added hasbeen on- conditions boarded. The NS where the PNF instances are to beadded has been instantiated. Begins when Operator decides to to add thePNF instance(s) to the NS. Step 1 (M) NMF requests NFVO to add the PNFinstance(s) to the NS instance. Step 2 (M) NFVO adds PNF instance(s) tothe NS instance. Step 3 (M) NFVO responds to NMF to indicate the PNFinstance(s) have been added successfully to the NS. Ends when Ends whenall steps identified above are completed. Exceptions One of the stepsidentified above fails. Post- The NS contains the PNF instance(s).conditions Traceability REQ-5GNFV_LCM_Os-Ma-nfvo-FUN-x

In the example of Table 1, REQ-5GNFV_LCM_Os-Ma-nfvo-FUN-x indicates thatthe Os-Ma-nfvo reference point supports a capability allowing NMF torequest NFVO to add the PNF instance(s) (e.g. gNB-DU) to an NS instance.

FIG. 4 illustrates a signal diagram 400 in accordance with oneembodiment of an NS update to modify a PNF in an NS instance. The NMF302 sends an UpdateNsRequest—ModifyPnf 402 message to the NFVO 304. Inresponse, the NFVO 304 sends an UpdateNsResponse 404 message and aNotify—NsLifecycleChangeNotification (start) 406 message to the NMF 302.The 304 performs an operation to modify a PNF in the NS instance 408.Then, the NFVO 304 sends a Notify—NsIdentifierChangeNotification(result) 410 message to the NMF 302.

In certain embodiments of the procedure shown in FIG. 4, it is assumedthat the NS where the PNF instances are to be modified has beeninstantiated. The UpdateNsRequest—ModifyPnf 402 message may include oneor more of the follow parameters: nsInstanceId—the identifier of the NSinstance being updated; updateType=“ModifyPnf” to indicate the type ofupdate operation; and modifyPnfData comprising PNF information. The PNFinformation may include one or more of the following attributespnfId—the identifier of the PNF; and cpData: information of the externalCP of the PNF.

The UpdateNsResponse 404 message may include the attributelifecycleOperationOccurrenceId that is the identifier of the NSlifecycle operation occurrence.

The Notify—NsLifecycleChangeNotification (start) 406 may carry anNsLifecycleChangeNotification information element with attributesnsInstanceId, lifecycleOperationOccurrenceId, operation=“NsUpdate”, andnotificationType=“start” to indicate the start of the NS instantiation.the NFVO 304 modifies the NS instance identified by nsInstanceIdaccording to the PNF information provided in modifyPnfData (e.g., modifythe external CP of the PNF that is identified by pnfId).

The Notify—NsIdentifierChangeNotification (result) 410 may carry anNsLifecycleChangeNotification information element with attributesnsInstanceId, lifecycleOperationOccurrenceId, operation=“NsUpdate”, andnotificationType=“result” to indicate the end result of the NSinstantiation.

TABLE 2 Use Case Evolution/Specification Goal To enable NMF to modifyPNF instances (e.g. change the CP addresses of the gNB-DU) in the NS.Actors and NMF Roles NFVO Telecom NMF, NFVO resources Assumptions NMF issubscribed to receive the NS LCM notifications. Pre- The NS where thePNF instance is to be modified has been conditions instantiated. Beginswhen Operator decides to to modify the PNF instances in the NS. Step 1(M) NMF requests NFVO to modify the PNF instance(s) in the NS instance.Step 2 (M) NFVO modifies the PNF instance(s) in the NS instance. Step 3(M) NFVO responds to NMF to indicate that the PNF instance(s) have beenmodified successfully. Ends when Ends when all steps identified aboveare completed. Exceptions One of the steps identified above fails. Post-The PNF instance(s) have been modified. conditions TraceabilityREQ-5GNFV_LCM_Os-Ma-nfvo-FUN-z

In the example of Table 2, REQ-5GNFV_LCM_Os-Ma-nfvo-FUN-z indicates thatthe Os-Ma-nfvo reference point supports a capability allowing NMF torequest NFVO to modify the PNF instance(s) (e.g. gNB-DU) from an NSinstance.

FIG. 5 illustrates a signal diagram 500 in accordance with oneembodiment of an NS update to remove a PNF from an NS instance. The NMF302 sends an UpdateNsRequest—RemovePnf 502 message to the NFVO 304. Inresponse, the NFVO 304 sends an UpdateNsResponse 504 message and aNotify—NsLifecycleChangeNotification (start) 506 message to the NMF 302.The 304 performs an operation to remove a PNF from the NS instance 508.Then, the NFVO 304 sends a Notify—NsIdentifierChangeNotification(result) 510 message to the NMF 302.

In certain embodiments of the procedure shown in, it is assumed that theNS where the PNF instances are to be removed has been instantiated. TheUpdateNsRequest—RemovePnf 502 message may include one or more of thefollowing parameters: nsInstanceId—the identifier of the NS instancebeing updated; updateType=“RemovePnf” to indicate the type of updateoperation; and removePnfId—the identifier of the PNF(s) in the NSinstance that are to be removed. The UpdateNsResponse 504 message mayinclude the attribute lifecycleOperationOccurrenceId that is theidentifier of the NS lifecycle operation occurrence. TheNotify—NsLifecycleChangeNotification (start) 506 message may carry anNsLifecycleChangeNotification information element with attributesnsInstanceId, lifecycleOperationOccurrenceId, operation=“NsUpdate”, andnotificationType=“start” to indicate the start of the NS instantiation.The NFVO 304 removes the PNF(s) that are identified by removePnfId fromthe NS instance identified by nsInstanceId. TheNotify—NsIdentifierChangeNotification (result) 510 may carry anNsLifecycleChangeNotification information element with attributesnsInstanceId, lifecycleOperationOccurrenceId, operation=“NsUpdate”, andnotificationType=“result” to indicate the end result of the NSinstantiation.

TABLE 3 Use Case Evolution/Specification Goal To enable NMF to removePNF instances (e.g. gNB-DU) from the NS. Actors and NMF Roles NFVOTelecom NMF, NFVO resources Assumptions NMF is subscribed to receive theNS LCM notifications. Pre- The NS where the PNF instances are to beremoved has conditions been instantiated. Begins when Operator decidesto to remove PNF instance(s) to the NS. Step 1 (M) NMF requests NFVO toremove the PNF instance(s) from the NS instance. Step 2 (M) NFVO removesthe PNF instance(s) from the NS instance. Step 3 (M) NFVO responds toNMF to indicate the gNB-DU PNF instance(s) have been removedsuccessfully. Ends when Ends when all steps identified above arecompleted. Exceptions One of the steps identified above fails. Post- ThePNF instance(s) have been removed from the NS. conditions TraceabilityREQ-5GNFV_LCM_Os-Ma-nfvo-FUN-y

In the example of Table 3, REQ-5GNFV_LCM_Os-Ma-nfvo-FUN-z indicates thatthe Os-Ma-nfvo reference point supports a capability allowing NMF torequest NFVO to remove the PNF instance(s) (e.g. gNB-DU) in the NS.

FIG. 6 illustrates a method 600 in accordance with one embodiment for amanagement function to manage PNF instances in an NS instance. In block602, the method 600 sends an update NS request from the managementfunction to a network functions virtualization orchestrator (NFVO) toupdate the NS instance, the update NS request comprising an NS instanceidentifier, an update type, and PNF information. In block 604, themethod 600 receives an update NS response from the NFVO, the update NSresponse comprising a lifecycle operation occurrence identifiercorresponding to an NS lifecycle operation occurrence. In block 606, themethod 600 receives an NS Lifecycle Change notification from the NFVO,the NS Lifecycle Change notification indicating a start of an NS update.In block 608, the method 600 receives an NS identifier changenotification from the NFVO, the NS identifier change notificationindicating a result of the NS update.

FIG. 7 illustrates a method 600 in accordance with one embodiment for anNFVO to manage PNF instances in an NS instance. In block 702, the method700 receives a request from a management function to update a networkservice (NS) instance. In block 704, the method 700 sends, to themanagement function, an update NS response comprising a lifecycleoperation occurrence identifier corresponding to an NS lifecycleoperation occurrence. In block 706, the method 700 sends, to themanagement function, an NS Lifecycle Change notification indicating astart of an NS update. In block 708, the method 700 performs a PNFupdate operation based on the request. In block 710, the method 700sends, to the management function, an NS identifier change notificationindicating a result of the NS update.

FIG. 8 illustrates an architecture of a system 800 of a network inaccordance with some embodiments. The system 800 includes one or moreuser equipment (UE), shown in this example as a UE 802 and a UE 804. TheUE 802 and the UE 804 are illustrated as smartphones (e.g., handheldtouchscreen mobile computing devices connectable to one or more cellularnetworks), but may also comprise any mobile or non-mobile computingdevice, such as Personal Data Assistants (PDAs), pagers, laptopcomputers, desktop computers, wireless handsets, or any computing deviceincluding a wireless communications interface.

In some embodiments, any of the UE 802 and the UE 804 can comprise anInternet of Things (IoT) UE, which can comprise a network access layerdesigned for low-power IoT applications utilizing short-lived UEconnections. An IoT UE can utilize technologies such asmachine-to-machine (M2M) or machine-type communications (MTC) forexchanging data with an MTC server or device via a public land mobilenetwork (PLMN), Proximity-Based Service (ProSe) or device-to-device(D2D) communication, sensor networks, or IoT networks. The M2M or MTCexchange of data may be a machine-initiated exchange of data. An IoTnetwork describes interconnecting IoT UEs, which may include uniquelyidentifiable embedded computing devices (within the Internetinfrastructure), with short-lived connections. The IoT UEs may executebackground applications (e.g., keep-alive messages, status updates,etc.) to facilitate the connections of the IoT network.

The UE 802 and the UE 804 may be configured to connect, e.g.,communicatively couple, with a radio access network (RAN), shown as RAN806. The RAN 806 may be, for example, an Evolved Universal MobileTelecommunications System (UMTS) Terrestrial Radio Access Network(E-UTRAN), a NextGen RAN (NG RAN), or some other type of RAN. The UE 802and the UE 804 utilize connection 808 and connection 810, respectively,each of which comprises a physical communications interface or layer(discussed in further detail below); in this example, the connection 808and the connection 810 are illustrated as an air interface to enablecommunicative coupling, and can be consistent with cellularcommunications protocols, such as a Global System for MobileCommunications (GSM) protocol, a code-division multiple access (CDMA)network protocol, a Push-to-Talk (PTT) protocol, a PTT over Cellular(POC) protocol, a Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS)protocol, a 3GPP Long Term Evolution (LTE) protocol, a fifth generation(5G) protocol, a New Radio (NR) protocol, and the like.

In this embodiment, the UE 802 and the UE 804 may further directlyexchange communication data via a ProSe interface 812. The ProSeinterface 812 may alternatively be referred to as a sidelink interfacecomprising one or more logical channels, including but not limited to aPhysical Sidelink Control Channel (PSCCH), a Physical Sidelink SharedChannel (PSSCH), a Physical Sidelink Discovery Channel (PSDCH), and aPhysical Sidelink Broadcast Channel (PSBCH).

The UE 804 is shown to be configured to access an access point (AP),shown as AP 814, via connection 816. The connection 816 can comprise alocal wireless connection, such as a connection consistent with any IEEE802.11 protocol, wherein the AP 814 would comprise a wireless fidelity(WiFi®) router. In this example, the AP 814 may be connected to theInternet without connecting to the core network of the wireless system(described in further detail below).

The RAN 806 can include one or more access nodes that enable theconnection 808 and the connection 810. These access nodes (ANs) can bereferred to as base stations (BSs), NodeBs, evolved NodeBs (eNBs), nextGeneration NodeBs (gNB), RAN nodes, and so forth, and can compriseground stations (e.g., terrestrial access points) or satellite stationsproviding coverage within a geographic area (e.g., a cell). The RAN 806may include one or more RAN nodes for providing macrocells, e.g., macroRAN node 818, and one or more RAN nodes for providing femtocells orpicocells (e.g., cells having smaller coverage areas, smaller usercapacity, or higher bandwidth compared to macrocells), e.g., a low power(LP) RAN node such as LP RAN node 820.

Any of the macro RAN node 818 and the LP RAN node 820 can terminate theair interface protocol and can be the first point of contact for the UE802 and the UE 804. In some embodiments, any of the macro RAN node 818and the LP RAN node 820 can fulfill various logical functions for theRAN 806 including, but not limited to, radio network controller (RNC)functions such as radio bearer management, uplink and downlink dynamicradio resource management and data packet scheduling, and mobilitymanagement.

In accordance with some embodiments, the UE 802 and the UE 804 can beconfigured to communicate using Orthogonal Frequency-DivisionMultiplexing (OFDM) communication signals with each other or with any ofthe macro RAN node 818 and the LP RAN node 820 over a multicarriercommunication channel in accordance various communication techniques,such as, but not limited to, an Orthogonal Frequency-Division MultipleAccess (OFDMA) communication technique (e.g., for downlinkcommunications) or a Single Carrier Frequency Division Multiple Access(SC-FDMA) communication technique (e.g., for uplink and ProSe orsidelink communications), although the scope of the embodiments is notlimited in this respect. The OFDM signals can comprise a plurality oforthogonal subcarriers.

In some embodiments, a downlink resource grid can be used for downlinktransmissions from any of the macro RAN node 818 and the LP RAN node 820to the UE 802 and the UE 804, while uplink transmissions can utilizesimilar techniques. The grid can be a time-frequency grid, called aresource grid or time-frequency resource grid, which is the physicalresource in the downlink in each slot. Such a time-frequency planerepresentation is a common practice for OFDM systems, which makes itintuitive for radio resource allocation. Each column and each row of theresource grid corresponds to one OFDM symbol and one OFDM subcarrier,respectively. The duration of the resource grid in the time domaincorresponds to one slot in a radio frame. The smallest time-frequencyunit in a resource grid is denoted as a resource element. Each resourcegrid comprises a number of resource blocks, which describe the mappingof certain physical channels to resource elements. Each resource blockcomprises a collection of resource elements; in the frequency domain,this may represent the smallest quantity of resources that currently canbe allocated. There are several different physical downlink channelsthat are conveyed using such resource blocks.

The physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH) may carry user data andhigher-layer signaling to the UE 802 and the UE 804. The physicaldownlink control channel (PDCCH) may carry information about thetransport format and resource allocations related to the PDSCH channel,among other things. It may also inform the UE 802 and the UE 804 aboutthe transport format, resource allocation, and H-ARQ (Hybrid AutomaticRepeat Request) information related to the uplink shared channel.Typically, downlink scheduling (assigning control and shared channelresource blocks to the UE 804 within a cell) may be performed at any ofthe macro RAN node 818 and the LP RAN node 820 based on channel qualityinformation fed back from any of the UE 802 and UE 804. The downlinkresource assignment information may be sent on the PDCCH used for (e.g.,assigned to) each of the UE 802 and the UE 804.

The PDCCH may use control channel elements (CCEs) to convey the controlinformation. Before being mapped to resource elements, the PDCCHcomplex-valued symbols may first be organized into quadruplets, whichmay then be permuted using a sub-block interleaver for rate matching.Each PDCCH may be transmitted using one or more of these CCEs, whereeach CCE may correspond to nine sets of four physical resource elementsknown as resource element groups (REGs). Four Quadrature Phase ShiftKeying (QPSK) symbols may be mapped to each REG. The PDCCH can betransmitted using one or more CCEs, depending on the size of thedownlink control information (DCI) and the channel condition. There canbe four or more different PDCCH formats defined in LTE with differentnumbers of CCEs (e.g., aggregation level, L=1, 2, 4, or 8).

Some embodiments may use concepts for resource allocation for controlchannel information that are an extension of the above-describedconcepts. For example, some embodiments may utilize an enhanced physicaldownlink control channel (EPDCCH) that uses PDSCH resources for controlinformation transmission. The EPDCCH may be transmitted using one ormore enhanced the control channel elements (ECCEs). Similar to above,each ECCE may correspond to nine sets of four physical resource elementsknown as enhanced resource element groups (EREGs). An ECCE may haveother numbers of EREGs in some situations.

The RAN 806 is communicatively coupled to a core network (CN), shown asCN 828—via an S1 interface 822. In embodiments, the CN 828 may be anevolved packet core (EPC) network, a NextGen Packet Core (NPC) network,or some other type of CN. In this embodiment the S1 interface 822 issplit into two parts: the S1-U interface 824, which carries traffic databetween the macro RAN node 818 and the LP RAN node 820 and a servinggateway (S-GW), shown as S-GW 832, and an S1-mobility management entity(MME) interface, shown as S1-MME interface 826, which is a signalinginterface between the macro RAN node 818 and LP RAN node 820 and theMME(s) 830.

In this embodiment, the CN 828 comprises the MME(s) 830, the S-GW 832, aPacket Data Network (PDN) Gateway (P-GW) (shown as P-GW 834), and a homesubscriber server (HSS) (shown as HSS 836). The MME(s) 830 may besimilar in function to the control plane of legacy Serving GeneralPacket Radio Service (GPRS) Support Nodes (SGSN). The MME(s) 830 maymanage mobility aspects in access such as gateway selection and trackingarea list management. The HSS 836 may comprise a database for networkusers, including subscription-related information to support the networkentities' handling of communication sessions. The CN 828 may compriseone or several HSS 836, depending on the number of mobile subscribers,on the capacity of the equipment, on the organization of the network,etc. For example, the HSS 836 can provide support for routing/roaming,authentication, authorization, naming/addressing resolution, locationdependencies, etc.

The S-GW 832 may terminate the S1 interface 322 towards the RAN 806, androutes data packets between the RAN 806 and the CN 828. In addition, theS-GW 832 may be a local mobility anchor point for inter-RAN nodehandovers and also may provide an anchor for inter-3GPP mobility. Otherresponsibilities may include lawful intercept, charging, and some policyenforcement.

The P-GW 834 may terminate an SGi interface toward a PDN. The P-GW 834may route data packets between the CN 828 (e.g., an EPC network) andexternal networks such as a network including the application server 842(alternatively referred to as application function (AF)) via an InternetProtocol (IP) interface (shown as IP communications interface 838).Generally, an application server 842 may be an element offeringapplications that use IP bearer resources with the core network (e.g.,UMTS Packet Services (PS) domain, LTE PS data services, etc.). In thisembodiment, the P-GW 834 is shown to be communicatively coupled to anapplication server 842 via an IP communications interface 838. Theapplication server 842 can also be configured to support one or morecommunication services (e.g., Voice-over-Internet Protocol (VoIP)sessions, PTT sessions, group communication sessions, social networkingservices, etc.) for the UE 802 and the UE 804 via the CN 828.

The P-GW 834 may further be a node for policy enforcement and chargingdata collection. A Policy and Charging Enforcement Function (PCRF)(shown as PCRF 840) is the policy and charging control element of the CN828. In a non-roaming scenario, there may be a single PCRF in the HomePublic Land Mobile Network (HPLMN) associated with a UE's InternetProtocol Connectivity Access Network (IP-CAN) session. In a roamingscenario with local breakout of traffic, there may be two PCRFsassociated with a UE's IP-CAN session: a Home PCRF (H-PCRF) within aHPLMN and a Visited PCRF (V-PCRF) within a Visited Public Land MobileNetwork (VPLMN). The PCRF 840 may be communicatively coupled to theapplication server 842 via the P-GW 834. The application server 842 maysignal the PCRF 840 to indicate a new service flow and select theappropriate Quality of Service (QoS) and charging parameters. The PCRF840 may provision this rule into a Policy and Charging EnforcementFunction (PCEF) (not shown) with the appropriate traffic flow template(TFT) and QoS class of identifier (QCI), which commences the QoS andcharging as specified by the application server 842.

FIG. 9 illustrates an architecture of a system 900 of a network inaccordance with some embodiments. The system 900 is shown to include aUE 902, which may be the same or similar to the UE 802 and the UE 804discussed previously; a 5G access node or RAN node (shown as (R)AN node908), which may be the same or similar to the macro RAN node 818 and/orthe LP RAN node 820 discussed previously; a User Plane Function (shownas UPF 904); a Data Network (DN 906), which may be, for example,operator services, Internet access or 3rd party services; and a 5G CoreNetwork (5GC) (shown as CN 910).

The CN 910 may include an Authentication Server Function (AUSF 914); aCore Access and Mobility Management Function (AMF 912); a SessionManagement Function (SMF 918); a Network Exposure Function (NEF 916); aPolicy Control Function (PCF 922); a Network Function (NF) RepositoryFunction (NRF 920); a Unified Data Management (UDM 924); and anApplication Function (AF 926). The CN 910 may also include otherelements that are not shown, such as a Structured Data Storage networkfunction (SDSF), an Unstructured Data Storage network function (UDSF),and the like.

The UPF 904 may act as an anchor point for intra-RAT and inter-RATmobility, an external PDU session point of interconnect to DN 906, and abranching point to support multi-homed PDU session. The UPF 904 may alsoperform packet routing and forwarding, packet inspection, enforce userplane part of policy rules, lawfully intercept packets (UP collection);traffic usage reporting, perform QoS handling for user plane (e.g.packet filtering, gating, UL/DL rate enforcement), perform UplinkTraffic verification (e.g., SDF to QoS flow mapping), transport levelpacket marking in the uplink and downlink, and downlink packet bufferingand downlink data notification triggering. UPF 904 may include an uplinkclassifier to support routing traffic flows to a data network. The DN906 may represent various network operator services, Internet access, orthird party services. DN 906 may include, or be similar to theapplication server 842 discussed previously.

The AUSF 914 may store data for authentication of UE 902 and handleauthentication related functionality. The AUSF 914 may facilitate acommon authentication framework for various access types.

The AMF 912 may be responsible for registration management (e.g., forregistering UE 902, etc.), connection management, reachabilitymanagement, mobility management, and lawful interception of AMF-relatedevents, and access authentication and authorization. AMF 912 may providetransport for SM messages for the SMF 918, and act as a transparentproxy for routing SM messages. AMF 912 may also provide transport forshort message service (SMS) messages between UE 902 and an SMS function(SMSF) (not shown by FIG. 9). AMF 912 may act as Security AnchorFunction (SEA), which may include interaction with the AUSF 914 and theUE 902, receipt of an intermediate key that was established as a resultof the UE 902 authentication process. Where USIM based authentication isused, the AMF 912 may retrieve the security material from the AUSF 914.AMF 912 may also include a Security Context Management (SCM) function,which receives a key from the SEA that it uses to derive access-networkspecific keys. Furthermore, AMF 912 may be a termination point of RAN CPinterface (N2 reference point), a termination point of NAS (NI)signaling, and perform NAS ciphering and integrity protection.

AMF 912 may also support NAS signaling with a UE 902 over an N3interworking-function (IWF) interface. The N3IWF may be used to provideaccess to untrustedentities. N3IWF may be a termination point for the N2and N3 interfaces for control plane and user plane, respectively, and assuch, may handle N2 signaling from SMF and AMF for PDU sessions and QoS,encapsulate/de-encapsulate packets for IPSec and N3 tunneling, mark N3user-plane packets in the uplink, and enforce QoS corresponding to N3packet marking taking into account QoS requirements associated to suchmarking received over N2. N3IWF may also relay uplink and downlinkcontrol□plane NAS (NI) signaling between the UE 902 and AMF 912, andrelay uplink and downlink user-plane packets between the UE 902 and UPF904. The N3IWF also provides mechanisms for IPsec tunnel establishmentwith the UE 902.

The SMF 918 may be responsible for session management (e.g., sessionestablishment, modify and release, including tunnel maintain between UPFand AN node); UE IP address allocation & management (including optionalAuthorization); Selection and control of UP function; Configures trafficsteering at UPF to route traffic to proper destination; termination ofinterfaces towards Policy control functions; control part of policyenforcement and QoS; lawful intercept (for SM events and interface to LISystem); termination of SM parts of NAS messages; downlink DataNotification; initiator of AN specific SM information, sent via AMF overN2 to AN; determine SSC mode of a session. The SMF 918 may include thefollowing roaming functionality: handle local enforcement to apply QoSSLAB (VPLMN); charging data collection and charging interface (VPLMN);lawful intercept (in VPLMN for SM events and interface to LI System);support for interaction with external DN for transport of signaling forPDU session authorization/authentication by external DN.

The NEF 916 may provide means for securely exposing the services andcapabilities provided by 3GPP network functions for third party,internal exposure/re-exposure, Application Functions (e.g., AF 926),edge computing or fog computing systems, etc. In such embodiments, theNEF 916 may authenticate, authorize, and/or throttle the AFs. NEF 916may also translate information exchanged with the AF 926 and informationexchanged with internal network functions. For example, the NEF 916 maytranslate between an AF-Service-Identifier and an internal 5GCinformation. NEF 916 may also receive information from other networkfunctions (NFs) based on exposed capabilities of other networkfunctions. This information may be stored at the NEF 916 as structureddata, or at a data storage NF using a standardized interfaces. Thestored information can then be re-exposed by the NEF 916 to other NFsand AFs, and/or used for other purposes such as analytics.

The NRF 920 may support service discovery functions, receive NFDiscovery Requests from NF instances, and provide the information of thediscovered NF instances to the NF instances. NRF 920 also maintainsinformation of available NF instances and their supported services.

The PCF 922 may provide policy rules to control plane function(s) toenforce them, and may also support unified policy framework to governnetwork behavior. The PCF 922 may also implement a front end (FE) toaccess subscription information relevant for policy decisions in a UDRof UDM 924.

The UDM 924 may handle subscription-related information to support thenetwork entities' handling of communication sessions, and may storesubscription data of UE 902. The UDM 924 may include two parts, anapplication FE and a User Data Repository (UDR). The UDM may include aUDM FE, which is in charge of processing of credentials, locationmanagement, subscription management and so on. Several different frontends may serve the same user in different transactions. The UDM-FEaccesses subscription information stored in the UDR and performsauthentication credential processing; user identification handling;access authorization; registration/mobility management; and subscriptionmanagement. The UDR may interact with PCF 922. UDM 924 may also supportSMS management, wherein an SMS-FE implements the similar applicationlogic as discussed previously.

The AF 926 may provide application influence on traffic routing, accessto the Network Capability Exposure (NCE), and interact with the policyframework for policy control. The NCE may be a mechanism that allows the5GC and AF 926 to provide information to each other via NEF 916, whichmay be used for edge computing implementations. In such implementations,the network operator and third party services may be hosted close to theUE 902 access point of attachment to achieve an efficient servicedelivery through the reduced end-to-end latency and load on thetransport network. For edge computing implementations, the 5GC mayselect a UPF 904 close to the UE 902 and execute traffic steering fromthe UPF 904 to DN 906 via the N6 interface. This may be based on the UEsubscription data, UE location, and information provided by the AF 926.In this way, the AF 926 may influence UPF (re)selection and trafficrouting. Based on operator deployment, when AF 926 is considered to be atrusted entity, the network operator may permit AF 926 to interactdirectly with relevant NFs.

As discussed previously, the CN 910 may include an SMSF, which may beresponsible for SMS subscription checking and verification, and relayingSM messages to/from the UE 902 to/from other entities, such as anSMS□GMSC/IWMSC/SMS-router. The SMS may also interact with AMF 912 andUDM 924 for notification procedure that the UE 902 is available for SMStransfer (e.g., set a UE not reachable flag, and notifying UDM 924 whenUE 902 is available for SMS).

The system 900 may include the following service-based interfaces: Namf:Service-based interface exhibited by AMF; Nsmf: Service-based interfaceexhibited by SMF; Nnef: Service-based interface exhibited by NEF; Npcf:Service□based interface exhibited by PCF; Nudm: Service-based interfaceexhibited by UDM; Naf: Service-based interface exhibited by AF; Nnrf:Service-based interface exhibited by NRF; and Nausf: Service-basedinterface exhibited by AUSF.

The system 900 may include the following reference points: N1: Referencepoint between the UE and the AMF; N2: Reference point between the (R)ANand the AMF; N3: Reference point between the (R)AN and the UPF; N4:Reference point between the SMF and the UPF; and N6: Reference pointbetween the UPF and a Data Network. There may be many more referencepoints and/or service-based interfaces between the NF services in theNFs, however, these interfaces and reference points have been omittedfor clarity. For example, an NS reference point may be between the PCFand the AF; an N7 reference point may be between the PCF and the SMF; anN11 reference point between the AMF and SMF; etc. In some embodiments,the CN 910 may include an Nx interface, which is an inter-CN interfacebetween the MME (e.g., MME(s) 830) and the AMF 912 in order to enableinterworking between CN 910 and CN 828.

Although not shown by FIG. 9, the system 900 may include multiple RANnodes (such as (R)AN node 908) wherein an Xn interface is definedbetween two or more (R)AN node 908 (e.g., gNBs and the like) thatconnecting to 5GC 410, between a (R)AN node 908 (e.g., gNB) connectingto CN 910 and an eNB (e.g., a macro RAN node 818 of FIG. 8), and/orbetween two eNBs connecting to CN 910.

In some implementations, the Xn interface may include an Xn user plane(Xn□U) interface and an Xn control plane (Xn-C) interface. The Xn-U mayprovide non□guaranteed delivery of user plane PDUs and support/providedata forwarding and flow control functionality. The Xn-C may providemanagement and error handling functionality, functionality to manage theXn-C interface; mobility support for UE 902 in a connected mode (e.g.,CM-CONNECTED) including functionality to manage the UE mobility forconnected mode between one or more (R)AN node 908. The mobility supportmay include context transfer from an old (source) serving (R)AN node 908to new (target) serving (R)AN node 908; and control of user planetunnels between old (source) serving (R)AN node 908 to new (target)serving (R)AN node 908.

A protocol stack of the Xn-U may include a transport network layer builton Internet Protocol (IP) transport layer, and a GTP-U layer on top of aUDP and/or IP layer(s) to carry user plane PDUs. The Xn-C protocol stackmay include an application layer signaling protocol (referred to as XnApplication Protocol (Xn-AP)) and a transport network layer that isbuilt on an SCTP layer. The SCTP layer may be on top of an IP layer. TheSCTP layer provides the guaranteed delivery of application layermessages. In the transport IP layer point-to-point transmission is usedto deliver the signaling PDUs. In other implementations, the Xn-Uprotocol stack and/or the Xn-C protocol stack may be same or similar tothe user plane and/or control plane protocol stack(s) shown anddescribed herein.

FIG. 10 illustrates example components of a device 1000 in accordancewith some embodiments. In some embodiments, the device 1000 may includeapplication circuitry 1002, baseband circuitry 1004, Radio Frequency(RF) circuitry (shown as RF circuitry 1020), front-end module (FEM)circuitry (shown as FEM circuitry 1030), one or more antennas 1032, andpower management circuitry (PMC) (shown as PMC 1034) coupled together atleast as shown. The components of the illustrated device 1000 may beincluded in a UE or a RAN node. In some embodiments, the device 1000 mayinclude fewer elements (e.g., a RAN node may not utilize applicationcircuitry 1002, and instead include a processor/controller to process IPdata received from an EPC). In some embodiments, the device 1000 mayinclude additional elements such as, for example, memory/storage,display, camera, sensor, or input/output (I/O) interface. In otherembodiments, the components described below may be included in more thanone device (e.g., said circuitries may be separately included in morethan one device for Cloud-RAN (C-RAN) implementations).

The application circuitry 1002 may include one or more applicationprocessors. For example, the application circuitry 1002 may includecircuitry such as, but not limited to, one or more single-core ormulti-core processors. The processor(s) may include any combination ofgeneral-purpose processors and dedicated processors (e.g., graphicsprocessors, application processors, etc.). The processors may be coupledwith or may include memory/storage and may be configured to executeinstructions stored in the memory/storage to enable various applicationsor operating systems to run on the device 1000. In some embodiments,processors of application circuitry 1002 may process IP data packetsreceived from an EPC.

The baseband circuitry 1004 may include circuitry such as, but notlimited to, one or more single-core or multi-core processors. Thebaseband circuitry 1004 may include one or more baseband processors orcontrol logic to process baseband signals received from a receive signalpath of the RF circuitry 1020 and to generate baseband signals for atransmit signal path of the RF circuitry 1020. The baseband circuitry1004 may interface with the application circuitry 1002 for generationand processing of the baseband signals and for controlling operations ofthe RF circuitry 1020. For example, in some embodiments, the basebandcircuitry 1004 may include a third generation (3G) baseband processor(3G baseband processor 1006), a fourth generation (4G) basebandprocessor (4G baseband processor 1008), a fifth generation (5G) basebandprocessor (5G baseband processor 1010), or other baseband processor(s)1012 for other existing generations, generations in development or to bedeveloped in the future (e.g., second generation (2G), sixth generation(6G), etc.). The baseband circuitry 1004 (e.g., one or more of basebandprocessors) may handle various radio control functions that enablecommunication with one or more radio networks via the RF circuitry 1020.In other embodiments, some or all of the functionality of theillustrated baseband processors may be included in modules stored in thememory 1018 and executed via a Central Processing Unit (CPU 1014). Theradio control functions may include, but are not limited to, signalmodulation/demodulation, encoding/decoding, radio frequency shifting,etc. In some embodiments, modulation/demodulation circuitry of thebaseband circuitry 1004 may include Fast-Fourier Transform (FFT),precoding, or constellation mapping/demapping functionality. In someembodiments, encoding/decoding circuitry of the baseband circuitry 1004may include convolution, tail-biting convolution, turbo, Viterbi, or LowDensity Parity Check (LDPC) encoder/decoder functionality. Embodimentsof modulation/demodulation and encoder/decoder functionality are notlimited to these examples and may include other suitable functionalityin other embodiments.

In some embodiments, the baseband circuitry 1004 may include a digitalsignal processor (DSP), such as one or more audio DSP(s) 1016. The oneor more audio DSP(s) 1016 may be include elements forcompression/decompression and echo cancellation and may include othersuitable processing elements in other embodiments. Components of thebaseband circuitry may be suitably combined in a single chip, a singlechipset, or disposed on a same circuit board in some embodiments. Insome embodiments, some or all of the constituent components of thebaseband circuitry 1004 and the application circuitry 1002 may beimplemented together such as, for example, on a system on a chip (SOC).

In some embodiments, the baseband circuitry 1004 may provide forcommunication compatible with one or more radio technologies. Forexample, in some embodiments, the baseband circuitry 1004 may supportcommunication with an evolved universal terrestrial radio access network(EUTRAN) or other wireless metropolitan area networks (WMAN), a wirelesslocal area network (WLAN), or a wireless personal area network (WPAN).Embodiments in which the baseband circuitry 1004 is configured tosupport radio communications of more than one wireless protocol may bereferred to as multi-mode baseband circuitry.

The RF circuitry 1020 may enable communication with wireless networksusing modulated electromagnetic radiation through a non-solid medium. Invarious embodiments, the RF circuitry 1020 may include switches,filters, amplifiers, etc. to facilitate the communication with thewireless network. The RF circuitry 1020 may include a receive signalpath which may include circuitry to down-convert RF signals receivedfrom the FEM circuitry 1030 and provide baseband signals to the basebandcircuitry 1004. The RF circuitry 1020 may also include a transmit signalpath which may include circuitry to up-convert baseband signals providedby the baseband circuitry 1004 and provide RF output signals to the FEMcircuitry 1030 for transmission.

In some embodiments, the receive signal path of the RF circuitry 1020may include mixer circuitry 1022, amplifier circuitry 1024 and filtercircuitry 1026. In some embodiments, the transmit signal path of the RFcircuitry 1020 may include filter circuitry 1026 and mixer circuitry1022. The RF circuitry 1020 may also include synthesizer circuitry 1028for synthesizing a frequency for use by the mixer circuitry 1022 of thereceive signal path and the transmit signal path. In some embodiments,the mixer circuitry 1022 of the receive signal path may be configured todown-convert RF signals received from the FEM circuitry 1030 based onthe synthesized frequency provided by synthesizer circuitry 1028. Theamplifier circuitry 1024 may be configured to amplify the down-convertedsignals and the filter circuitry 1026 may be a low-pass filter (LPF) orband-pass filter (BPF) configured to remove unwanted signals from thedown-converted signals to generate output baseband signals. Outputbaseband signals may be provided to the baseband circuitry 1004 forfurther processing. In some embodiments, the output baseband signals maybe zero-frequency baseband signals, although this is not a requirement.In some embodiments, the mixer circuitry 1022 of the receive signal pathmay comprise passive mixers, although the scope of the embodiments isnot limited in this respect.

In some embodiments, the mixer circuitry 1022 of the transmit signalpath may be configured to up-convert input baseband signals based on thesynthesized frequency provided by the synthesizer circuitry 1028 togenerate RF output signals for the FEM circuitry 1030. The basebandsignals may be provided by the baseband circuitry 1004 and may befiltered by the filter circuitry 1026.

In some embodiments, the mixer circuitry 1022 of the receive signal pathand the mixer circuitry 1022 of the transmit signal path may include twoor more mixers and may be arranged for quadrature downconversion andupconversion, respectively. In some embodiments, the mixer circuitry1022 of the receive signal path and the mixer circuitry 1022 of thetransmit signal path may include two or more mixers and may be arrangedfor image rejection (e.g., Hartley image rejection). In someembodiments, the mixer circuitry 1022 of the receive signal path and themixer circuitry 1022 may be arranged for direct downconversion anddirect upconversion, respectively. In some embodiments, the mixercircuitry 1022 of the receive signal path and the mixer circuitry 1022of the transmit signal path may be configured for super-heterodyneoperation.

In some embodiments, the output baseband signals and the input basebandsignals may be analog baseband signals, although the scope of theembodiments is not limited in this respect. In some alternateembodiments, the output baseband signals and the input baseband signalsmay be digital baseband signals. In these alternate embodiments, the RFcircuitry 1020 may include analog-to-digital converter (ADC) anddigital-to-analog converter (DAC) circuitry and the baseband circuitry1004 may include a digital baseband interface to communicate with the RFcircuitry 1020.

In some dual-mode embodiments, a separate radio IC circuitry may beprovided for processing signals for each spectrum, although the scope ofthe embodiments is not limited in this respect.

In some embodiments, the synthesizer circuitry 1028 may be afractional-N synthesizer or a fractional N/N+1 synthesizer, although thescope of the embodiments is not limited in this respect as other typesof frequency synthesizers may be suitable. For example, synthesizercircuitry 1028 may be a delta-sigma synthesizer, a frequency multiplier,or a synthesizer comprising a phase-locked loop with a frequencydivider.

The synthesizer circuitry 1028 may be configured to synthesize an outputfrequency for use by the mixer circuitry 1022 of the RF circuitry 1020based on a frequency input and a divider control input. In someembodiments, the synthesizer circuitry 1028 may be a fractional N/N+1synthesizer.

In some embodiments, frequency input may be provided by a voltagecontrolled oscillator (VCO), although that is not a requirement. Dividercontrol input may be provided by either the baseband circuitry 1004 orthe application circuitry 1002 (such as an applications processor)depending on the desired output frequency. In some embodiments, adivider control input (e.g., N) may be determined from a look-up tablebased on a channel indicated by the application circuitry 1002.

Synthesizer circuitry 1028 of the RF circuitry 1020 may include adivider, a delay-locked loop (DLL), a multiplexer and a phaseaccumulator. In some embodiments, the divider may be a dual modulusdivider (DMD) and the phase accumulator may be a digital phaseaccumulator (DPA). In some embodiments, the DMD may be configured todivide the input signal by either N or N+1 (e.g., based on a carry out)to provide a fractional division ratio. In some example embodiments, theDLL may include a set of cascaded, tunable, delay elements, a phasedetector, a charge pump and a D-type flip-flop. In these embodiments,the delay elements may be configured to break a VCO period up into Ndequal packets of phase, where Nd is the number of delay elements in thedelay line. In this way, the DLL provides negative feedback to helpensure that the total delay through the delay line is one VCO cycle.

In some embodiments, the synthesizer circuitry 1028 may be configured togenerate a carrier frequency as the output frequency, while in otherembodiments, the output frequency may be a multiple of the carrierfrequency (e.g., twice the carrier frequency, four times the carrierfrequency) and used in conjunction with quadrature generator and dividercircuitry to generate multiple signals at the carrier frequency withmultiple different phases with respect to each other. In someembodiments, the output frequency may be a LO frequency (fLO). In someembodiments, the RF circuitry 1020 may include an IQ/polar converter.

The FEM circuitry 1030 may include a receive signal path which mayinclude circuitry configured to operate on RF signals received from oneor more antennas 1032, amplify the received signals and provide theamplified versions of the received signals to the RF circuitry 1020 forfurther processing. The FEM circuitry 1030 may also include a transmitsignal path which may include circuitry configured to amplify signalsfor transmission provided by the RF circuitry 1020 for transmission byone or more of the one or more antennas 1032. In various embodiments,the amplification through the transmit or receive signal paths may bedone solely in the RF circuitry 1020, solely in the FEM circuitry 1030,or in both the RF circuitry 1020 and the FEM circuitry 1030.

In some embodiments, the FEM circuitry 1030 may include a TX/RX switchto switch between transmit mode and receive mode operation. The FEMcircuitry 1030 may include a receive signal path and a transmit signalpath. The receive signal path of the FEM circuitry 1030 may include anLNA to amplify received RF signals and provide the amplified received RFsignals as an output (e.g., to the RF circuitry 1020). The transmitsignal path of the FEM circuitry 1030 may include a power amplifier (PA)to amplify input RF signals (e.g., provided by the RF circuitry 1020),and one or more filters to generate RF signals for subsequenttransmission (e.g., by one or more of the one or more antennas 1032).

In some embodiments, the PMC 1034 may manage power provided to thebaseband circuitry 1004. In particular, the PMC 1034 may controlpower-source selection, voltage scaling, battery charging, or DC-to-DCconversion. The PMC 1034 may often be included when the device 1000 iscapable of being powered by a battery, for example, when the device 1000is included in a UE. The PMC 1034 may increase the power conversionefficiency while providing desirable implementation size and heatdissipation characteristics.

FIG. 10 shows the PMC 1034 coupled only with the baseband circuitry1004. However, in other embodiments, the PMC 1034 may be additionally oralternatively coupled with, and perform similar power managementoperations for, other components such as, but not limited to, theapplication circuitry 1002, the RF circuitry 1020, or the FEM circuitry1030.

In some embodiments, the PMC 1034 may control, or otherwise be part of,various power saving mechanisms of the device 1000. For example, if thedevice 1000 is in an RRC_Connected state, where it is still connected tothe RAN node as it expects to receive traffic shortly, then it may entera state known as Discontinuous Reception Mode (DRX) after a period ofinactivity. During this state, the device 1000 may power down for briefintervals of time and thus save power.

If there is no data traffic activity for an extended period of time,then the device 1000 may transition off to an RRC_Idle state, where itdisconnects from the network and does not perform operations such aschannel quality feedback, handover, etc. The device 1000 goes into avery low power state and it performs paging where again it periodicallywakes up to listen to the network and then powers down again. The device1000 may not receive data in this state, and in order to receive data,it transitions back to an RRC_Connected state.

An additional power saving mode may allow a device to be unavailable tothe network for periods longer than a paging interval (ranging fromseconds to a few hours). During this time, the device is totallyunreachable to the network and may power down completely. Any data sentduring this time incurs a large delay and it is assumed the delay isacceptable.

Processors of the application circuitry 1002 and processors of thebaseband circuitry 1004 may be used to execute elements of one or moreinstances of a protocol stack. For example, processors of the basebandcircuitry 1004, alone or in combination, may be used to execute Layer 3,Layer 2, or Layer 1 functionality, while processors of the applicationcircuitry 1002 may utilize data (e.g., packet data) received from theselayers and further execute Layer 4 functionality (e.g., transmissioncommunication protocol (TCP) and user datagram protocol (UDP) layers).As referred to herein, Layer 3 may comprise a radio resource control(RRC) layer, described in further detail below. As referred to herein,Layer 2 may comprise a medium access control (MAC) layer, a radio linkcontrol (RLC) layer, and a packet data convergence protocol (PDCP)layer, described in further detail below. As referred to herein, Layer 1may comprise a physical (PHY) layer of a UE/RAN node, described infurther detail below.

FIG. 11 illustrates example interfaces 1100 of baseband circuitry inaccordance with some embodiments. As discussed above, the basebandcircuitry 1004 of FIG. 10 may comprise 3G baseband processor 1006, 4Gbaseband processor 1008, 5G baseband processor 1010, other basebandprocessor(s) 1012, CPU 1014, and a memory 1018 utilized by saidprocessors. As illustrated, each of the processors may include arespective memory interface 1102 to send/receive data to/from the memory1018.

The baseband circuitry 1004 may further include one or more interfacesto communicatively couple to other circuitries/devices, such as a memoryinterface 1104 (e.g., an interface to send/receive data to/from memoryexternal to the baseband circuitry 1004), an application circuitryinterface 1106 (e.g., an interface to send/receive data to/from theapplication circuitry 1002 of FIG. 10), an RF circuitry interface 1108(e.g., an interface to send/receive data to/from RF circuitry 1020 ofFIG. 10), a wireless hardware connectivity interface 1110 (e.g., aninterface to send/receive data to/from Near Field Communication (NFC)components, Bluetooth® components (e.g., Bluetooth® Low Energy), Wi-Fi®components, and other communication components), and a power managementinterface 1112 (e.g., an interface to send/receive power or controlsignals to/from the PMC 1034.

FIG. 12 is an illustration of a control plane protocol stack inaccordance with some embodiments. In this embodiment, a control plane1200 is shown as a communications protocol stack between the UE 802 (oralternatively, the UE 804), the RAN 806 (e.g., the macro RAN node 818and/or the LP RAN node 820), and the MME(s) 830.

A PHY layer 1202 may transmit or receive information used by the MAClayer 1204 over one or more air interfaces. The PHY layer 1202 mayfurther perform link adaptation or adaptive modulation and coding (AMC),power control, cell search (e.g., for initial synchronization andhandover purposes), and other measurements used by higher layers, suchas an RRC layer 1210. The PHY layer 1202 may still further perform errordetection on the transport channels, forward error correction (FEC)coding/decoding of the transport channels, modulation/demodulation ofphysical channels, interleaving, rate matching, mapping onto physicalchannels, and Multiple Input Multiple Output (MIMO) antenna processing.

The MAC layer 1204 may perform mapping between logical channels andtransport channels, multiplexing of MAC service data units (SDUs) fromone or more logical channels onto transport blocks (TB) to be deliveredto PHY via transport channels, de-multiplexing MAC SDUs to one or morelogical channels from transport blocks (TB) delivered from the PHY viatransport channels, multiplexing MAC SDUs onto TBs, schedulinginformation reporting, error correction through hybrid automatic repeatrequest (HARD), and logical channel prioritization.

An RLC layer 1206 may operate in a plurality of modes of operation,including: Transparent Mode (TM), Unacknowledged Mode (UM), andAcknowledged Mode (AM). The RLC layer 1206 may execute transfer of upperlayer protocol data units (PDUs), error correction through automaticrepeat request (ARQ) for AM data transfers, and concatenation,segmentation and reassembly of RLC SDUs for UM and AM data transfers.The RLC layer 1206 may also execute re-segmentation of RLC data PDUs forAM data transfers, reorder RLC data PDUs for UM and AM data transfers,detect duplicate data for UM and AM data transfers, discard RLC SDUs forUM and AM data transfers, detect protocol errors for AM data transfers,and perform RLC re-establishment.

A PDCP layer 1208 may execute header compression and decompression of IPdata, maintain PDCP Sequence Numbers (SNs), perform in-sequence deliveryof upper layer PDUs at re-establishment of lower layers, eliminateduplicates of lower layer SDUs at re-establishment of lower layers forradio bearers mapped on RLC AM, cipher and decipher control plane data,perform integrity protection and integrity verification of control planedata, control timer-based discard of data, and perform securityoperations (e.g., ciphering, deciphering, integrity protection,integrity verification, etc.).

The main services and functions of the RRC layer 1210 may includebroadcast of system information (e.g., included in Master InformationBlocks (MIBs) or System Information Blocks (SIBs) related to thenon-access stratum (NAS)), broadcast of system information related tothe access stratum (AS), paging, establishment, maintenance and releaseof an RRC connection between the UE and E-UTRAN (e.g., RRC connectionpaging, RRC connection establishment, RRC connection modification, andRRC connection release), establishment, configuration, maintenance andrelease of point-to-point radio bearers, security functions includingkey management, inter radio access technology (RAT) mobility, andmeasurement configuration for UE measurement reporting. Said MIBs andSIBs may comprise one or more information elements (IEs), which may eachcomprise individual data fields or data structures.

The UE 802 and the RAN 806 may utilize a Uu interface (e.g., an LTE-Uuinterface) to exchange control plane data via a protocol stackcomprising the PHY layer 1202, the MAC layer 1204, the RLC layer 1206,the PDCP layer 1208, and the RRC layer 1210.

In the embodiment shown, the non-access stratum (NAS) protocols (NASprotocols 1212) form the highest stratum of the control plane betweenthe UE 802 and the MME(s) 830. The NAS protocols 1212 support themobility of the UE 802 and the session management procedures toestablish and maintain IP connectivity between the UE 802 and the P-GW834.

The S1 Application Protocol (S1-AP) layer (S1-AP layer 1222) may supportthe functions of the S1 interface and comprise Elementary Procedures(EPs). An EP is a unit of interaction between the RAN 806 and the CN828. The S1-AP layer services may comprise two groups: UE-associatedservices and non UE-associated services. These services performfunctions including, but not limited to: E-UTRAN Radio Access Bearer(E-RAB) management, UE capability indication, mobility, NAS signalingtransport, RAN Information Management (RIM), and configuration transfer.

The Stream Control Transmission Protocol (SCTP) layer (alternativelyreferred to as the stream control transmission protocol/internetprotocol (SCTP/IP) layer) (SCTP layer 1220) may ensure reliable deliveryof signaling messages between the RAN 806 and the MME(s) 830 based, inpart, on the IP protocol, supported by an IP layer 1218. An L2 layer1216 and an L1 layer 1214 may refer to communication links (e.g., wiredor wireless) used by the RAN node and the MME to exchange information.

The RAN 806 and the MME(s) 830 may utilize an S1-MME interface toexchange control plane data via a protocol stack comprising the L1 layer1214, the L2 layer 1216, the IP layer 1218, the SCTP layer 1220, and theS1-AP layer 1222.

FIG. 13 is an illustration of a user plane protocol stack in accordancewith some embodiments. In this embodiment, a user plane 1300 is shown asa communications protocol stack between the UE 802 (or alternatively,the UE 804), the RAN 806 (e.g., the macro RAN node 818 and/or the LP RANnode 820), the S-GW 832, and the P-GW 834. The user plane 1300 mayutilize at least some of the same protocol layers as the control plane1200. For example, the UE 802 and the RAN 806 may utilize a Uu interface(e.g., an LTE-Uu interface) to exchange user plane data via a protocolstack comprising the PHY layer 1202, the MAC layer 1204, the RLC layer1206, the PDCP layer 1208.

The General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) Tunneling Protocol for the userplane (GTP-U) layer (GTP-U layer 1304) may be used for carrying userdata within the GPRS core network and between the radio access networkand the core network. The user data transported can be packets in any ofIPv4, IPv6, or PPP formats, for example. The UDP and IP security(UDP/IP) layer (UDP/IP layer 1302) may provide checksums for dataintegrity, port numbers for addressing different functions at the sourceand destination, and encryption and authentication on the selected dataflows. The RAN 806 and the S-GW 832 may utilize an S1-U interface toexchange user plane data via a protocol stack comprising the L1 layer1214, the L2 layer 1216, the UDP/IP layer 1302, and the GTP-U layer1304. The S-GW 832 and the P-GW 834 may utilize an S5/S8a interface toexchange user plane data via a protocol stack comprising the L1 layer1214, the L2 layer 1216, the UDP/IP layer 1302, and the GTP-U layer1304. As discussed above with respect to FIG. 12, NAS protocols supportthe mobility of the UE 802 and the session management procedures toestablish and maintain IP connectivity between the UE 802 and the P-GW834.

FIG. 14 illustrates components 1400 of a core network in accordance withsome embodiments. The components of the CN 828 may be implemented in onephysical node or separate physical nodes including components to readand execute instructions from a machine-readable or computer-readablemedium (e.g., a non-transitory machine-readable storage medium). In someembodiments, Network Functions Virtualization (NFV) is utilized tovirtualize any or all of the above described network node functions viaexecutable instructions stored in one or more computer readable storagemediums (described in further detail below). A logical instantiation ofthe CN 828 may be referred to as a network slice 1402 (e.g., the networkslice 1402 is shown to include the HSS 836, that MME(s) 830, and theS-GW 832). A logical instantiation of a portion of the CN 828 may bereferred to as a network sub-slice 1404 (e.g., the network sub-slice1404 is shown to include the P-GW 834 and the PCRF 840).

NFV architectures and infrastructures may be used to virtualize one ormore network functions, alternatively performed by proprietary hardware,onto physical resources comprising a combination of industry-standardserver hardware, storage hardware, or switches. In other words, NFVsystems can be used to execute virtual or reconfigurable implementationsof one or more EPC components/functions.

FIG. 15 is a block diagram illustrating components, according to someexample embodiments, of a system 1500 to support NFV. The system 1500 isillustrated as including a virtualized infrastructure manager (shown asVIM 1502), a network function virtualization infrastructure (shown asNFVI 1504), a VNF manager (shown as VNFM 1506), virtualized networkfunctions (shown as VNF 1508), an element manager (shown as EM 1510), anNFV Orchestrator (shown as NFVO 1512), and a network manager (shown asNM 1514).

The VIM 1502 manages the resources of the NFVI 1504. The NFVI 1504 caninclude physical or virtual resources and applications (includinghypervisors) used to execute the system 1500. The VIM 1502 may managethe life cycle of virtual resources with the NFVI 1504 (e.g., creation,maintenance, and tear down of virtual machines (VMs) associated with oneor more physical resources), track VM instances, track performance,fault and security of VM instances and associated physical resources,and expose VM instances and associated physical resources to othermanagement systems.

The VNFM 1506 may manage the VNF 1508. The VNF 1508 may be used toexecute EPC components/functions. The VNFM 1506 may manage the lifecycle of the VNF 1508 and track performance, fault and security of thevirtual aspects of VNF 1508. The EM 1510 may track the performance,fault and security of the functional aspects of VNF 1508. The trackingdata from the VNFM 1506 and the EM 1510 may comprise, for example,performance measurement (PM) data used by the VIM 1502 or the NFVI 1504.Both the VNFM 1506 and the EM 1510 can scale up/down the quantity ofVNFs of the system 1500.

The NFVO 1512 may coordinate, authorize, release and engage resources ofthe NFVI 1504 in order to provide the requested service (e.g., toexecute an EPC function, component, or slice). The NM 1514 may provide apackage of end-user functions with the responsibility for the managementof a network, which may include network elements with VNFs,non-virtualized network functions, or both (management of the VNFs mayoccur via the EM 1510).

FIG. 16 is a block diagram illustrating components 1600, according tosome example embodiments, able to read instructions from amachine-readable or computer-readable medium (e.g., a non-transitorymachine-readable storage medium) and perform any one or more of themethodologies discussed herein. Specifically, FIG. 16 shows adiagrammatic representation of hardware resources 1602 including one ormore processors 1612 (or processor cores), one or more memory/storagedevices 1618, and one or more communication resources 1620, each ofwhich may be communicatively coupled via a bus 1622. For embodimentswhere node virtualization (e.g., NFV) is utilized, a hypervisor 1604 maybe executed to provide an execution environment for one or more networkslices/sub-slices to utilize the hardware resources 1602.

The processors 1612 (e.g., a central processing unit (CPU), a reducedinstruction set computing (RISC) processor, a complex instruction setcomputing (CISC) processor, a graphics processing unit (GPU), a digitalsignal processor (DSP) such as a baseband processor, an applicationspecific integrated circuit (ASIC), a radio-frequency integrated circuit(RFIC), another processor, or any suitable combination thereof) mayinclude, for example, a processor 1614 and a processor 1616.

The memory/storage devices 1618 may include main memory, disk storage,or any suitable combination thereof. The memory/storage devices 1618 mayinclude, but are not limited to any type of volatile or non-volatilememory such as dynamic random access memory (DRAM), static random-accessmemory (SRAM), erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM),electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), Flashmemory, solid-state storage, etc.

The communication resources 1620 may include interconnection or networkinterface components or other suitable devices to communicate with oneor more peripheral devices 1606 or one or more databases 1608 via anetwork 1610. For example, the communication resources 1620 may includewired communication components (e.g., for coupling via a UniversalSerial Bus (USB)), cellular communication components, NFC components,Bluetooth® components (e.g., Bluetooth® Low Energy), Wi-Fi® components,and other communication components.

Instructions 1624 may comprise software, a program, an application, anapplet, an app, or other executable code for causing at least any of theprocessors 1612 to perform any one or more of the methodologiesdiscussed herein. The instructions 1624 may reside, completely orpartially, within at least one of the processors 1612 (e.g., within theprocessor's cache memory), the memory/storage devices 1618, or anysuitable combination thereof. Furthermore, any portion of theinstructions 1624 may be transferred to the hardware resources 1602 fromany combination of the peripheral devices 1606 or the databases 1608.Accordingly, the memory of the processors 1612, the memory/storagedevices 1618, the peripheral devices 1606, and the databases 1608 areexamples of computer-readable and machine-readable media.

The following examples pertain to further embodiments.

Example 1A is a method for a management function of a wirelesscommunication system to manage physical network function (PNF) instancesin a network service (NS) instance. The method includes sending anupdate NS request from the management function to a network functionsvirtualization orchestrator (NFVO) to update the NS instance, the updateNS request comprising an NS instance identifier, an update type, and PNFinformation; receiving an update NS response from the NFVO, the updateNS response comprising a lifecycle operation occurrence identifiercorresponding to an NS lifecycle operation occurrence; receiving an NSLifecycle Change notification from the NFVO, the NS Lifecycle Changenotification indicating a start of an NS update; and receiving an NSidentifier change notification from the NFVO, the NS identifier changenotification indicating a result of the NS update.

Example 2A includes the method of Example 1A, wherein the update type isselected from a group comprising an add PNF update operation, a modifyPNF update operation, and a remove PNF update operation.

Example 3A is the method of Example 2A, wherein for the add PNF updateoperation, the PNF information comprises add PNF data for a PNF instanceto be added, the add PNF data including at least one of a PNFidentifier, a PNF name, a physical network function descriptor (PNFD)identifier related to the PNF instance, a PNF profile identifier, andconnection point (CP) data comprising information for an external CP ofa PNF.

Example 4A is the method of Example 2A, wherein for the modify PNFupdate operation, the PNF information comprises modify PNF data for aPNF instance to be modified, the modify PNF data including at least oneof a PNF identifier, a PNF name, and connection point (CP) datacomprising information for an external CP of a PNF.

Example 5A is the method of Example 2A, wherein for the remove PNFupdate operation, the PNF information comprises a remove PNF identifierto identify one or more PNF in the NS instance to be removed.

Example 6A is the method of Example 1A, wherein the NS Lifecycle Changenotification received from the NFVO comprises an NS Lifecycle Changenotification information element including one or more attributesselected from the NS instance identifier, the lifecycle operationoccurrence identifier, an operation parameter set to NS update, and anotification type set to indicate a start of NS instantiation.

Example 7A is the method of Example 1A, wherein the NS identifier changenotification received from the NFVO comprises an NS Lifecycle Changenotification information element including one or more attributesselected from the NS instance identifier, the lifecycle operationoccurrence identifier, an operation parameter set to NS update, and anotification type set to indicate an end result of NS instantiation.

Example 8A is the method of Example 1A, further comprising implementinga plurality of core network functions (NFs), and splitting functionalfeatures of a radio access network (RAN) into a centralized unit (CU)that implements upper layer functions of a RAN node and a distributedunit (DU) that implements lower layer functions of the RAN node.

Example 9A is the method of Example 8A, further comprising implementingthe NFs and the CU functions as virtualized network functions (VNFs)deployed in a cloud network, and implementing the DU as a PNF invertical hardware deployed in a cell site to provide wirelesscommunication to user equipment (UE).

Example 10A is the method of Example 9A, further comprising implementingan evolved node B (eNB) as the PNF.

Example 11A is the a method for a network functions virtualizationorchestrator (NFVO), the method comprising: receiving a request from amanagement function to update a network service (NS) instance; sending,to the management function, an update NS response comprising a lifecycleoperation occurrence identifier corresponding to an NS lifecycleoperation occurrence; sending, to the management function, an NSLifecycle Change notification indicating a start of an NS update;performing a PNF update operation based on the request; and sending, tothe management function, an NS identifier change notification indicatinga result of the NS update.

Example 12A is the method of Example 11A, wherein the PNF updateoperation based on the request comprises an add PNF update operation,wherein the request includes add PNF data for a PNF instance to beadded, and wherein the add PNF data includes at least one of a PNFidentifier, a PNF name, a physical network function descriptor (PNFD)identifier related to the PNF instance, a PNF profile identifier, andconnection point (CP) data comprising information for an external CP ofa PNF.

Example 13A is the method of Example 11A, wherein the PNF updateoperation based on the request comprises a modify PNF update operation,wherein the request includes modify PNF data for a PNF instance to bemodified, and wherein the modify PNF data includes at least one of a PNFidentifier, a PNF name, and connection point (CP) data comprisinginformation for an external CP of a PNF.

Example 14A is the method of Example 11A, wherein the PNF updateoperation based on the request comprises a remove PNF update operation,and wherein the request includes a remove PNF identifier to identify oneor more PNF in the NS instance to be removed.

Example 15A is the method of Example 11A, wherein the NS LifecycleChange notification comprises an NS Lifecycle Change notificationinformation element including one or more attributes selected from an NSinstance identifier, the lifecycle operation occurrence identifier, anoperation parameter set to NS update, and a notification type set toindicate a start of NS instantiation.

Example 16A is the method of Example 11A, wherein the NS identifierchange notification comprises an NS Lifecycle Change notificationinformation element including one or more attributes selected from an NSinstance identifier, the lifecycle operation occurrence identifier, anoperation parameter set to NS update, and a notification type set toindicate an end result of NS instantiation.

Example 17A is a non-volatile computer-readable storage medium havingcomputer-readable instructions stored thereon, the computer-readableinstructions to, when executed, instruct a processor to: process arequest to update a network service (NS) with a physical networkfunction (PNF) instance; process an update NS response comprising alifecycle operation occurrence identifier corresponding to an NSlifecycle operation occurrence; process an NS Lifecycle Changenotification indicating a start of an NS update; and process an NSidentifier change notification indicating a result of the NS update.

Example 18A is the non-volatile computer-readable storage medium ofExample 17A, wherein the request comprises an NS instance identifier, anupdate type, and PNF information.

Example 19A is the non-volatile computer-readable storage medium ofExample 18A, wherein the update type is selected from a group comprisingan add PNF update operation, a modify PNF update operation, and a removePNF update operation.

Example 20A is the non-volatile computer-readable storage medium ofExample 19A, wherein for the add PNF update operation, the PNFinformation comprises add PNF data for a PNF instance to be added, theadd PNF data including at least one of a PNF identifier, a PNF name, aphysical network function descriptor (PNFD) identifier related to thePNF instance, a PNF profile identifier, and connection point (CP) datacomprising information for an external CP of a PNF.

Example 21A is the non-volatile computer-readable storage medium ofExample 19A, wherein for the modify PNF update operation, the PNFinformation comprises modify PNF data for a PNF instance to be modified,the modify PNF data including at least one of a PNF identifier, a PNFname, and connection point (CP) data comprising information for anexternal CP of a PNF.

Example 22A is the non-volatile computer-readable storage medium ofExample 19A, wherein for the remove PNF update operation, the PNFinformation comprises a remove PNF identifier to identify one or morePNF in the NS instance to be removed.

Example 23A is the non-volatile computer-readable storage medium ofExample 18A, wherein the NS Lifecycle Change notification comprises anNS Lifecycle Change notification information element including one ormore attributes selected from the NS instance identifier, the lifecycleoperation occurrence identifier, an operation parameter set to NSupdate, and a notification type set to indicate a start of NSinstantiation.

Example 24A is the non-volatile computer-readable storage medium ofExample 18A, wherein the NS identifier change notification comprises anNS Lifecycle Change notification information element including one ormore attributes selected from the NS instance identifier, the lifecycleoperation occurrence identifier, an operation parameter set to NSupdate, and a notification type set to indicate an end result of NSinstantiation.

Example 25A is a computing apparatus, the computing apparatus comprisinga processor and a memory storing instructions. The processor and thememory storing instructions that, when executed by the processor,configure the apparatus to: send an update NS request from themanagement function to a network functions virtualization orchestrator(NFVO) to update the NS instance, the update NS request comprising an NSinstance identifier, an update type, and PNF information; receive anupdate NS response from the NFVO, the update NS response comprising alifecycle operation occurrence identifier corresponding to an NSlifecycle operation occurrence; receive an NS Lifecycle Changenotification from the NFVO, the NS Lifecycle Change notificationindicating a start of an NS update; and receive an NS identifier changenotification from the NFVO, the NS identifier change notificationindicating a result of the NS update.

Example 26A is a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium, thecomputer-readable storage medium including instructions that whenexecuted by a computer, cause the computer to: send an update NS requestfrom the management function to a network functions virtualizationorchestrator (NFVO) to update the NS instance, the update NS requestcomprising an NS instance identifier, an update type, and PNFinformation; receive an update NS response from the NFVO, the update NSresponse comprising a lifecycle operation occurrence identifiercorresponding to an NS lifecycle operation occurrence; receive an NSLifecycle Change notification from the NFVO, the NS Lifecycle Changenotification indicating a start of an NS update; and receive an NSidentifier change notification from the NFVO, the NS identifier changenotification indicating a result of the NS update.

Example 27A is a computing apparatus, the computing apparatus comprisinga processor and a memory storing instructions. The processor and thememory storing instructions that, when executed by the processor,configure the apparatus to: receive a request from a management functionto update a network service (NS) instance; send, to the managementfunction, an update NS response comprising a lifecycle operationoccurrence identifier corresponding to an NS lifecycle operationoccurrence; send, to the management function, an NS Lifecycle Changenotification indicating a start of an NS update; perform a PNF updateoperation based on the request; and send, to the management function, anNS identifier change notification indicating a result of the NS update.

Example 28A is a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium, thecomputer-readable storage medium including instructions that whenexecuted by a computer, cause the computer to: receive a request from amanagement function to update a network service (NS) instance; send, tothe management function, an update NS response comprising a lifecycleoperation occurrence identifier corresponding to an NS lifecycleoperation occurrence; send, to the management function, an NS LifecycleChange notification indicating a start of an NS update; perform a PNFupdate operation based on the request; and send, to the managementfunction, an NS identifier change notification indicating a result ofthe NS update.

Example 29A is a computing apparatus including a processor and a memorystoring instructions that, when executed by the processor, configure theapparatus to perform the method of any of Examples 1A-16A.

Example 30A is a non-transitory computer-readable storage mediumincluding instructions that, when processed by a computer, configure thecomputer to perform the method of any of Examples 1A-16A.

Example 31A is an apparatus comprising means to perform the method ofany of Examples 1A-16A.

Example 1B may include an apparatus, comprising: a 5G network mayconsist of 5G core NFs (network Functions) (e.g. UPF, SMF, NSSF, NEF, ,, , etc.), and NG RAN where the functional split feature (see TR 38.801)splits a gNB (Next Generation radio access network) into gNB-CU(Centrailzed Unit) that implements the upper layer functions of gNB andgNB-DU (distributed unit) that implements the lower layer functions ofgNB.

Example 2B may include the apparatus of Example 1B and/or some otherExamples herein, wherein 5G core NFs and gNB-CU may be implemented asVNF (Virtualized network Functions) deployed in the cloud, and gNB-DUmay be implemented as PNF (Physical network Function) in the verticalhardware deployed in the cell site to provide wireless communication toUE.

Example 3B may include an NMF comprising one or more processors isconfigured to: send a request to NFVO to update the NS with theparameters: nsInstanceId—the identifier of the NS instance beingupdated; and updateType=“AddPnf” to indicate the type of updateoperation; and addPnfData—the information of the PNF to be added:receive from NFVO the operation result containing the lifecycleoperation occurrence identifier; and receive from NFVO the NS LifecycleChange notification to NM indicating the start of NS update; and receivefrom NFVO the NS Lifecycle Change notification to NM indicating theresult of NS update.

Example 4B may include the NMF Example 3B and/or some other Examplesherein, wherein the addPnfData contains: pnfId: the identifier of thePNF; and pnfdId: reference to the identifier of the PNFD related to thisPNF; and pnfProfileId: reference to the identifier of the PNF Profile tobe used for this PNF; and cpData: information of the external CP(Connection Point) of the PNF.

Example 5B may include the NMF Example 3B and/or some other Examplesherein, wherein NFVO comprising one or more processors is configured to:receive a request from NMF to update the NS; and send to NMF the NSupdate operation result containing the lifecycle operation occurrenceidentifier; and send to NMF the NS Lifecycle Change notification to NMindicating the start of NS update; and add the PNF identified by pnfIdto the NS instance identified by nsInstanceId; and send from NFVO the NSLifecycle Change notification to NM indicating the result of NS update.

Example 6B may include an NMF comprising one or more processors isconfigured to: send a request to NFVO to update the NS with theparameters: nsInstanceId—the identifier of the NS instance beingupdated; and updateType=“ModifyPnf” to indicate the type of updateoperation; and modifyPnfData—the information of the PNF to be used formodification; receive from NFVO the operation result containing thelifecycle operation occurrence identifier; and receive from NFVO the NSLifecycle Change notification to NM indicating the start of NS update;and receive from NFVO the NS Lifecycle Change notification to NMindicating the result of NS update.

Example 7B may include the NMF Example 6B and/or some other Examplesherein, wherein the modifyPnfData contains: pnfId: the identifier of thePNF; and cpData: information of the external CP (Connection Point) ofthe PNF.

Example 8B may include the NMF Example 6B and/or some other Examplesherein, wherein NFVO comprising one or more processors is configured to:receive a request from NMF to update the NS; and send to NMF the NSupdate operation result containing the lifecycle operation occurrenceidentifier; and send to NMF the NS Lifecycle Change notification to NMindicating the start of NS update; and modify the PNF identified bypnfId in the NS instance identified by nsInstanceId with themodifyPnfData information; and send from NFVO the NS Lifecycle Changenotification to NM indicating the result of NS update.

Example 9B may include an NMF comprising one or more processors isconfigured to: send a request to NFVO to update the NS with theparameters: nsInstanceId—the identifier of the NS instance beingupdated; and updateType=“RemovePnf” to indicate the type of updateoperation; and removePnfId—the identifier of the PNF(s) in the NSinstance that are to be removed; receive from NFVO the operation resultcontaining the lifecycle operation occurrence identifier; and receivefrom NFVO the NS Lifecycle Change notification to NM indicating thestart of NS update; and receive from NFVO the NS Lifecycle Changenotification to NM indicating the result of NS update.

Example 10B may include the NMF Example 9B and/or some other Examplesherein, wherein NFVO comprising one or more processors is configured to:receive a request from NMF to update the NS; and send to NMF the NSupdate operation result containing the lifecycle operation occurrenceidentifier; and send to NMF the NS Lifecycle Change notification to NMindicating the start of NS update; and remove the PNF identified bypnfId from the NS instance identified by nsInstanceId with themodifyPnfData information; and send from NFVO the NS Lifecycle Changenotification to NM indicating the result of NS update.

Example 11B may include the NMF Example 2B and/or some other Examplesherein, wherein the 4G eNB can be implemented as a PNF.

Example 12B may include an apparatus comprising means to perform one ormore elements of a method described in or related to any of Examples1B-11B, or any other method or process described herein.

Example 13B may include one or more non-transitory computer-readablemedia comprising instructions to cause an electronic device, uponexecution of the instructions by one or more processors of theelectronic device, to perform one or more elements of a method describedin or related to any of Examples 1B-11B, or any other method or processdescribed herein.

Example 14B may include an apparatus comprising logic, modules, orcircuitry to perform one or more elements of a method described in orrelated to any of Examples 1B-11B, or any other method or processdescribed herein.

Example 15B may include a method, technique, or process as described inor related to any of Examples 1B-11B, or portions or parts thereof.

Example 16B may include an apparatus comprising: one or more processorsand one or more computer readable media comprising instructions that,when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or moreprocessors to perform the method, techniques, or process as described inor related to any of Examples 1B-11B, or portions thereof.

Example 17B may include a signal as described in or related to any ofExamples 1B-11B, or portions or parts thereof.

Example 18B may include a signal in a wireless network as shown anddescribed herein.

Example 19B may include a method of communicating in a wireless networkas shown and described herein.

Example 20B may include a system for providing wireless communication asshown and described herein.

Example 21B may include a device for providing wireless communication asshown and described herein.

Any of the above described examples may be combined with any otherexample (or combination of examples), unless explicitly statedotherwise. The foregoing description of one or more implementationsprovides illustration and description, but is not intended to beexhaustive or to limit the scope of embodiments to the precise formdisclosed. Modifications and variations are possible in light of theabove teachings or may be acquired from practice of various embodiments.

Embodiments and implementations of the systems and methods describedherein may include various operations, which may be embodied inmachine-executable instructions to be executed by a computer system. Acomputer system may include one or more general-purpose orspecial-purpose computers (or other electronic devices). The computersystem may include hardware components that include specific logic forperforming the operations or may include a combination of hardware,software, and/or firmware.

Computer systems and the computers in a computer system may be connectedvia a network. Suitable networks for configuration and/or use asdescribed herein include one or more local area networks, wide areanetworks, metropolitan area networks, and/or Internet or IP networks,such as the World Wide Web, a private Internet, a secure Internet, avalue-added network, a virtual private network, an extranet, anintranet, or even stand-alone machines which communicate with othermachines by physical transport of media. In particular, a suitablenetwork may be formed from parts or entireties of two or more othernetworks, including networks using disparate hardware and networkcommunication technologies.

One suitable network includes a server and one or more clients; othersuitable networks may include other combinations of servers, clients,and/or peer-to-peer nodes, and a given computer system may function bothas a client and as a server. Each network includes at least twocomputers or computer systems, such as the server and/or clients. Acomputer system may include a workstation, laptop computer,disconnectable mobile computer, server, mainframe, cluster, so-called“network computer” or “thin client,” tablet, smart phone, personaldigital assistant or other hand-held computing device, “smart” consumerelectronics device or appliance, medical device, or a combinationthereof.

Suitable networks may include communications or networking software,such as the software available from Novell®, Microsoft®, and othervendors, and may operate using TCP/IP, SPX, IPX, and other protocolsover twisted pair, coaxial, or optical fiber cables, telephone lines,radio waves, satellites, microwave relays, modulated AC power lines,physical media transfer, and/or other data transmission “wires” known tothose of skill in the art. The network may encompass smaller networksand/or be connectable to other networks through a gateway or similarmechanism.

Various techniques, or certain aspects or portions thereof, may take theform of program code (i.e., instructions) embodied in tangible media,such as floppy diskettes, CD-ROMs, hard drives, magnetic or opticalcards, solid-state memory devices, a nontransitory computer-readablestorage medium, or any other machine-readable storage medium wherein,when the program code is loaded into and executed by a machine, such asa computer, the machine becomes an apparatus for practicing the varioustechniques. In the case of program code execution on programmablecomputers, the computing device may include a processor, a storagemedium readable by the processor (including volatile and nonvolatilememory and/or storage elements), at least one input device, and at leastone output device. The volatile and nonvolatile memory and/or storageelements may be a RAM, an EPROM, a flash drive, an optical drive, amagnetic hard drive, or other medium for storing electronic data. TheeNB (or other base station) and UE (or other mobile station) may alsoinclude a transceiver component, a counter component, a processingcomponent, and/or a clock component or timer component. One or moreprograms that may implement or utilize the various techniques describedherein may use an application programming interface (API), reusablecontrols, and the like. Such programs may be implemented in a high-levelprocedural or an object-oriented programming language to communicatewith a computer system. However, the program(s) may be implemented inassembly or machine language, if desired. In any case, the language maybe a compiled or interpreted language, and combined with hardwareimplementations.

Each computer system includes one or more processors and/or memory;computer systems may also include various input devices and/or outputdevices. The processor may include a general purpose device, such as anIntel®, AMD®, or other “off-the-shelf” microprocessor. The processor mayinclude a special purpose processing device, such as ASIC, SoC, SiP,FPGA, PAL, PLA, FPLA, PLD, or other customized or programmable device.The memory may include static RAM, dynamic RAM, flash memory, one ormore flip-flops, ROM, CD-ROM, DVD, disk, tape, or magnetic, optical, orother computer storage medium. The input device(s) may include akeyboard, mouse, touch screen, light pen, tablet, microphone, sensor, orother hardware with accompanying firmware and/or software. The outputdevice(s) may include a monitor or other display, printer, speech ortext synthesizer, switch, signal line, or other hardware withaccompanying firmware and/or software.

It should be understood that many of the functional units described inthis specification may be implemented as one or more components, whichis a term used to more particularly emphasize their implementationindependence. For example, a component may be implemented as a hardwarecircuit comprising custom very large scale integration (VLSI) circuitsor gate arrays, or off-the-shelf semiconductors such as logic chips,transistors, or other discrete components. A component may also beimplemented in programmable hardware devices such as field programmablegate arrays, programmable array logic, programmable logic devices, orthe like.

Components may also be implemented in software for execution by varioustypes of processors. An identified component of executable code may, forinstance, comprise one or more physical or logical blocks of computerinstructions, which may, for instance, be organized as an object, aprocedure, or a function. Nevertheless, the executables of an identifiedcomponent need not be physically located together, but may comprisedisparate instructions stored in different locations that, when joinedlogically together, comprise the component and achieve the statedpurpose for the component.

Indeed, a component of executable code may be a single instruction, ormany instructions, and may even be distributed over several differentcode segments, among different programs, and across several memorydevices. Similarly, operational data may be identified and illustratedherein within components, and may be embodied in any suitable form andorganized within any suitable type of data structure. The operationaldata may be collected as a single data set, or may be distributed overdifferent locations including over different storage devices, and mayexist, at least partially, merely as electronic signals on a system ornetwork. The components may be passive or active, including agentsoperable to perform desired functions.

Several aspects of the embodiments described will be illustrated assoftware modules or components. As used herein, a software module orcomponent may include any type of computer instruction orcomputer-executable code located within a memory device. A softwaremodule may, for instance, include one or more physical or logical blocksof computer instructions, which may be organized as a routine, program,object, component, data structure, etc., that perform one or more tasksor implement particular data types. It is appreciated that a softwaremodule may be implemented in hardware and/or firmware instead of or inaddition to software. One or more of the functional modules describedherein may be separated into sub-modules and/or combined into a singleor smaller number of modules.

In certain embodiments, a particular software module may includedisparate instructions stored in different locations of a memory device,different memory devices, or different computers, which togetherimplement the described functionality of the module. Indeed, a modulemay include a single instruction or many instructions, and may bedistributed over several different code segments, among differentprograms, and across several memory devices. Some embodiments may bepracticed in a distributed computing environment where tasks areperformed by a remote processing device linked through a communicationsnetwork. In a distributed computing environment, software modules may belocated in local and/or remote memory storage devices. In addition, databeing tied or rendered together in a database record may be resident inthe same memory device, or across several memory devices, and may belinked together in fields of a record in a database across a network.

Reference throughout this specification to “an example” means that aparticular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connectionwith the example is included in at least one embodiment. Thus,appearances of the phrase “in an example” in various places throughoutthis specification are not necessarily all referring to the sameembodiment.

As used herein, a plurality of items, structural elements, compositionalelements, and/or materials may be presented in a common list forconvenience. However, these lists should be construed as though eachmember of the list is individually identified as a separate and uniquemember. Thus, no individual member of such list should be construed as ade facto equivalent of any other member of the same list solely based onits presentation in a common group without indications to the contrary.In addition, various embodiments and examples may be referred to hereinalong with alternatives for the various components thereof. It isunderstood that such embodiments, examples, and alternatives are not tobe construed as de facto equivalents of one another, but are to beconsidered as separate and autonomous representations.

Furthermore, the described features, structures, or characteristics maybe combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments. In thefollowing description, numerous specific details are provided, such asexamples of materials, frequencies, sizes, lengths, widths, shapes,etc., to provide a thorough understanding of the embodiments. Oneskilled in the relevant art will recognize, however, that theembodiments may be practiced without one or more of the specificdetails, or with other methods, components, materials, etc. In otherinstances, well-known structures, materials, or operations are not shownor described in detail to avoid obscuring aspects of embodiments.

It should be recognized that the systems described herein includedescriptions of specific embodiments. These embodiments can be combinedinto single systems, partially combined into other systems, split intomultiple systems or divided or combined in other ways. In addition, itis contemplated that parameters/attributes/aspects/etc. of oneembodiment can be used in another embodiment. Theparameters/attributes/aspects/etc. are merely described in one or moreembodiments for clarity, and it is recognized that theparameters/attributes/aspects/etc. can be combined with or substitutedfor parameters/attributes/etc. of another embodiment unless specificallydisclaimed herein.

Although the foregoing has been described in some detail for purposes ofclarity, it will be apparent that certain changes and modifications maybe made without departing from the principles thereof. It should benoted that there are many alternative ways of implementing both theprocesses and apparatuses described herein. Accordingly, the presentembodiments are to be considered illustrative and not restrictive, andthe description is not to be limited to the details given herein, butmay be modified within the scope and equivalents of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. An apparatus for a management function of awireless communication system to manage physical network function (PNF)instances in a network service (NS) instance, the apparatus comprising:a memory interface to send or receive, to or from a memory device, anupdate NS request; and a processor to: generate an update NS request tosend from the management function to a network functions virtualizationorchestrator (NFVO) to update the NS instance, the update NS requestcomprising an NS instance identifier, an update type, and PNFinformation; process an update NS response from the NFVO, the update NSresponse comprising a lifecycle operation occurrence identifiercorresponding to an NS lifecycle operation occurrence; process an NSLifecycle Change notification from the NFVO, the NS Lifecycle Changenotification indicating a start of an NS update; and process an NSidentifier change notification from the NFVO, the NS identifier changenotification indicating a result of the NS update.
 2. The apparatus ofclaim 1, wherein the update type is selected from a group comprising anadd PNF update operation, a modify PNF update operation, and a removePNF update operation.
 3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein for the addPNF update operation, the PNF information comprises add PNF data for aPNF instance to be added, the add PNF data including at least one of aPNF identifier, a PNF name, a physical network function descriptor(PNFD) identifier related to the PNF instance, a PNF profile identifier,and connection point (CP) data comprising information for an external CPof a PNF.
 4. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein for the modify PNF updateoperation, the PNF information comprises modify PNF data for a PNFinstance to be modified, the modify PNF data including at least one of aPNF identifier, a PNF name, and connection point (CP) data comprisinginformation for an external CP of a PNF.
 5. The apparatus of claim 2,wherein for the remove PNF update operation, the PNF informationcomprises a remove PNF identifier to identify one or more PNF in the NSinstance to be removed.
 6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the NSLifecycle Change notification from the NFVO comprises an NS LifecycleChange notification information element including one or more attributesselected from the NS instance identifier, the lifecycle operationoccurrence identifier, an operation parameter set to NS update, and anotification type set to indicate a start of NS instantiation.
 7. Theapparatus of claim 1, wherein the NS identifier change notification fromthe NFVO comprises an NS Lifecycle Change notification informationelement including one or more attributes selected from the NS instanceidentifier, the lifecycle operation occurrence identifier, an operationparameter set to NS update, and a notification type set to indicate anend result of NS instantiation.
 8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein theprocessor is further to implement a plurality of core network functions(NFs), and splitting functional features of a radio access network (RAN)into a centralized unit (CU) that implements upper layer functions of aRAN node and a distributed unit (DU) that implements lower layerfunctions of the RAN node.
 9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein theprocessor is further to implement the NFs and the CU functions asvirtualized network functions (VNFs) deployed in a cloud network, andimplementing the DU as a PNF in vertical hardware deployed in a cellsite to provide wireless communication to user equipment (UE).
 10. Theapparatus of claim 9, the processor is further to implement an evolvednode B (eNB) as the PNF.
 11. A method for a network functionsvirtualization orchestrator (NFVO), the method comprising: receiving arequest from a management function to update a network service (NS)instance; sending, to the management function, an update NS responsecomprising a lifecycle operation occurrence identifier corresponding toan NS lifecycle operation occurrence; sending, to the managementfunction, an NS Lifecycle Change notification indicating a start of anNS update; performing a PNF update operation based on the request; andsending, to the management function, an NS identifier changenotification indicating a result of the NS update.
 12. The method ofclaim 11, wherein the PNF update operation based on the requestcomprises an add PNF update operation, wherein the request includes addPNF data for a PNF instance to be added, and wherein the add PNF dataincludes at least one of a PNF identifier, a PNF name, a physicalnetwork function descriptor (PNFD) identifier related to the PNFinstance, a PNF profile identifier, and connection point (CP) datacomprising information for an external CP of a PNF.
 13. The method ofclaim 11, wherein the PNF update operation based on the requestcomprises a modify PNF update operation, wherein the request includesmodify PNF data for a PNF instance to be modified, and wherein themodify PNF data includes at least one of a PNF identifier, a PNF name,and connection point (CP) data comprising information for an external CPof a PNF.
 14. The method of claim 11, wherein the PNF update operationbased on the request comprises a remove PNF update operation, andwherein the request includes a remove PNF identifier to identify one ormore PNF in the NS instance to be removed.
 15. The method of claim 11,wherein the NS Lifecycle Change notification comprises an NS LifecycleChange notification information element including one or more attributesselected from an NS instance identifier, the lifecycle operationoccurrence identifier, an operation parameter set to NS update, and anotification type set to indicate a start of NS instantiation.
 16. Themethod of claim 11, wherein the NS identifier change notificationcomprises an NS Lifecycle Change notification information elementincluding one or more attributes selected from an NS instanceidentifier, the lifecycle operation occurrence identifier, an operationparameter set to NS update, and a notification type set to indicate anend result of NS instantiation.
 17. A non-volatile computer-readablestorage medium having computer-readable instructions stored thereon, thecomputer-readable instructions to, when executed, instruct a processorto: process a request to update a network service (NS) with a physicalnetwork function (PNF) instance; process an update NS responsecomprising a lifecycle operation occurrence identifier corresponding toan NS lifecycle operation occurrence; process an NS Lifecycle Changenotification indicating a start of an NS update; and process an NSidentifier change notification indicating a result of the NS update. 18.The non-volatile computer-readable storage medium of claim 17, whereinthe request comprises an NS instance identifier, an update type, and PNFinformation.
 19. The non-volatile computer-readable storage medium ofclaim 18, wherein the update type is selected from a group comprising anadd PNF update operation, a modify PNF update operation, and a removePNF update operation.
 20. The non-volatile computer-readable storagemedium of claim 19, wherein for the add PNF update operation, the PNFinformation comprises add PNF data for a PNF instance to be added, theadd PNF data including at least one of a PNF identifier, a PNF name, aphysical network function descriptor (PNFD) identifier related to thePNF instance, a PNF profile identifier, and connection point (CP) datacomprising information for an external CP of a PNF.
 21. The non-volatilecomputer-readable storage medium of claim 19, wherein for the modify PNFupdate operation, the PNF information comprises modify PNF data for aPNF instance to be modified, the modify PNF data including at least oneof a PNF identifier, a PNF name, and connection point (CP) datacomprising information for an external CP of a PNF.
 22. The non-volatilecomputer-readable storage medium of claim 19, wherein for the remove PNFupdate operation, the PNF information comprises a remove PNF identifierto identify one or more PNF in the NS instance to be removed.
 23. Thenon-volatile computer-readable storage medium of claim 18, wherein theNS Lifecycle Change notification comprises an NS Lifecycle Changenotification information element including one or more attributesselected from the NS instance identifier, the lifecycle operationoccurrence identifier, an operation parameter set to NS update, and anotification type set to indicate a start of NS instantiation.
 24. Thenon-volatile computer-readable storage medium of claim 18, wherein theNS identifier change notification comprises an NS Lifecycle Changenotification information element including one or more attributesselected from the NS instance identifier, the lifecycle operationoccurrence identifier, an operation parameter set to NS update, and anotification type set to indicate an end result of NS instantiation.